These words, spoken by the thirteen-year-old Juliet in response to her mother’s suggestion (or order!) that she should marry ‘the valiant Paris’, would be typical of that of a daughter of that time, portraying Juliet as compliant and submissive to her parents’ demands. The rhyming couplet and regular rhythm and rhyme used here almost give it a sing-song quality, as if Juliet had rehearsed what she says.
There does not seem to be much of mother/daughter relationship with Lady Capulet and Juliet, who responds perfunctorily in the first act to her mother calling her: "''Madam, I am here. What is your will?''. This shows the audience that Juliet is very submissive towards her mother and foreshadows her obedience at the end of the scene. We already know that in Elizabethan times, regardless of their class- children where to never ever disobey their parents. This was very common, and finding a rebellious child was very uncommon during those times.
The fact that Juliet uses the word ''Madam'' is a very formal towards her mother. The fact that she doesn't use the word ''mother'' tells us that there is no real relationship towards Juliet and Lady Capulet. The only relationship between them is blood and name. Shakespeare effectively portrays a rather distant, cold relationship between Juliet and her mother during this scene.
Juxtaposed to the cold and nothingness relationship between Juliet and Lady Capulet; is the affectionate and loving relationship between the Nurse and Juliet.
In the first few moments of the scene we see the mother like role Nurse plays towards Juliet, the Nurse exclaims ''What, lamb! What, ladybird! God forbid!''. The terms ''Lamb'', and ''ladybird'', tells us that she uses terms of endearment towards Juliet- informal, juxtaposed to the very formal conversations Lady Capulet and Juliet have. Also, the phrase ''God forbid!', tells the audience that even though Juliet isn't there for about 2 minutes or somewhat- the Nurse worries about her constantly; like a mother who constantly worries about their child.
At the start of the Nurse's story she says, ''Come Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen. Susan and she,'' which states her daughter Susan and Juliet were born on the same day. But Susan died, ''Well, Susan is with God.'' Which tells us the audience that the Nurse may of replaced the daughter bond she may of had with Susan with Juliet. We see that during the scene, the Nurse really does love Juliet as if she was her own.
Juliet and the Nurse share a very close bond, one that surpasses one of a girl and her servant. It has been proven that children that have been breastfed by someone regardless if they're the mother or not- they will share a very special bond; like the Nurse's and Juliet's.
The Nurse has become over the years Juliet's close companion, confidant, friend, and mother. Juliet is comfortable with and at ease speaking to the Nurse. They share opinions, ideas ,secrets, and emotions- unlike Juliet and Lady Capulet. The Nurse shows this during the discussion of marriage when she describes Paris, ''Lady, such a man as all the world. Why, he’s a man of wax.'' This tells the audience that this is how Juliet and the Nurse talk- like school girls gossiping.
Juliet shows her strength over the Nurse when she says embarrassed after hearing the story, ''Enough of this. I pray thee, hold thy peace.'' Despite the fact that Lady Capulet is superior to both Juliet and the Nurse and told the Nurse to be quiet. The Nurse only stops talking when Juliet demands it.
During the conversation of marriage, most mothers are excited, and exclaim that their child is getting married and they're happy to see it. The Nurse says, ''An I might live to see thee married once, I have my wish.'' This suggests to the audience that this is an expression that a mother would say. But during the conversation- Lady Capulet doesn't exclaim any excited expressions she talks to Juliet as if she was in a business meeting; selling a product. The phrase ''I have my wish'', shows the audience that she has bought up Juliet all her life and the only thing she wants in return is to see her get married.
While Lady Capulet sees Paris as the chance to make a socially advantageous match for the family, rather than considering Juliet's feelings, the Nurse regards marriage as a purely physical relationship, almost a burden women simply must bear. She reinterprets Lady Capulet's line that marriage increases a woman's wealth and status as referring instead to the way in which marriage increases a woman through pregnancy. Thus, despite the distance of her mother and the love from her Nurse neither are able to address the romantic concept of love that Juliet harbors. In fact, each identifies a distinct aspect of female oppression — social and physical.
The Nurse has essentially been Juliet's mother – she nursed Juliet as a baby and has been with Juliet her whole life (1.3.5). Juliet's bond with the Nurse is clear. At the same time, Lady Capulet is technically Juliet's mother, and she is in charge of her daughter's future. The Nurse is also, for all her importance to Juliet, ultimately a servant, which puts a mighty big class distinction in between the two of them which can complicate things immensely.
